MLB Player News
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Darren Baker 2B | CHW
White Sox's Darren Baker: Inks MiLB deal with White Sox
The White Sox signed Baker to a minor-league contract Tuesday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
Baker -- who did not receive an invitation to major-league camp -- slashed .256/.343/.318 with one homer and 26 steals in 107 games with Triple-A Rochester in the Nationals organization in 2025. The 27-year-old got a cup of coffee with the Nats in 2024, going 7-for-14 at the plate. Baker will give the White Sox some experienced infield depth at Triple-A Charlotte.
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Luisangel Acuna 2B | CHW
White Sox's Luisangel Acuna: Swing tweak leads to more power
Acuna has tweaked his swing in order to stay loaded in his back leg to create more consistent power, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.
The swing tweak bore fruit in the Venezuelan Winter League, where Acuna slashed .282/.397/.542 with eight home runs in 39 games for Cardenales de Lara. The power display Acuna showed in winter ball came after he didn't hit a single homer in 193 plate appearances for the Mets in 2025, though he did steal 16 bases in 17 attempts. After being acquired by the White Sox last month in the Luis Robert trade, Acuna is the odds-on favorite to emerge as Chicago's everyday center fielder in 2026.
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Hye Seong Kim 2B | LAD
Dodgers' Hyeseong Kim: Competing for Opening Day job at 2B
Kim, Alex Freeland and Miguel Rojas were named by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts as candidates to start at second base to begin the regular season with Tommy Edman (ankle) slated to be placed on the injured list, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports.
The Dodgers don't have many positional battles this spring, but the second-base job appears to be pretty wide open due to Edman's ongoing recovery. Kim has also been tabbed to get time in center field behind Andy Pages, according to Roberts, but the second-year major-leaguer has a big opportunity to earn a regular spot in the lineup while Edman is out. It sounds like the winner of the positional battle will be determined by how each candidate performs during spring training, so Kim's Cactus League showing is certainly worth keeping an eye on.
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Zack Gelof 2B | ATH
Athletics' Zack Gelof: Could see time in center field
Gelof could get looks in center field in addition to reps at second base, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Gelof was spotted trotting out to center field during batting practice Monday, and skipper Mark Kotsay elaborated further on Gelof's potential utility role in spring training and heading into the 2026 season. "I do think Zack can play the outfield," said Kotsay. "We've seen Zack be a plus defender. There could be a role that exists on this club where Zack is on the roster." Gallegos notes that Jeff McNeil is in line to see everyday opportunities at second base, which will make the path for playing time more difficult for Gelof, who struggled in 2024 and couldn't stay healthy in 2025. However, the 26-year-old has always been a strong defender with plus speed, which will undoubtedly help as he learns the outfield. "With how the last two years have gone, I definitely want to lean into my athleticism," said Gelof. "Be the best baserunner on the team. Defensively, bring that aspect. I know I can hit, but the bare minimum is being a winning player. That's what I bring. I need to bring that to this team, so that's what I'm going to do."
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Tyler Callihan LF | PIT
Reds' Tyler Callihan: Fully cleared
Reds manager Terry Francona said Sunday that Callihan (forearm) has been fully cleared for all baseball activities during spring training, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.
Callihan has had an incredibly unlucky professional career when it comes to his health, with his latest setback coming in May, when he snapped his forearm trying to make a sliding catch in Atlanta. He's facing an uphill battle to make the team as a bench player coming out of spring training, with Will Benson and JJ Bleday seemingly ahead of him in the pecking order among Cincinnati's left-handed-hitting corner outfielders.
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Romy Gonzalez 2B | BOS
Red Sox's Romy Gonzalez: Yet to begin baseball activities
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Monday that Gonzalez (shoulder) has yet to begin baseball activities, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
Gonzalez injured his left shoulder late last regular season and was given a platelet-rich plasma injection in January after experiencing renewed discomfort. The Red Sox are hopeful that he will be ready in time for Opening Day, but there seems to be some uncertainty about Gonzalez's status. Once he's ready, the right-handed-hitting Gonzalez is slated to see regular playing time against left-handed pitching.
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Tommy Edman 2B | LAD
Dodgers' Tommy Edman: Ruled out for Opening Day
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Monday that Edman (ankle) will begin the season on the injured list, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.
Edman has dealt with a nagging right ankle injury for a couple years and finally underwent surgery to correct the issue this offseason. Roberts said Monday that the team will take a "methodical" pace with Edman and "take the long view" with his return, suggesting it's likely to be longer than a minimum stay on the injured list for the switch hitter. While Edman is out, Hyeseong Kim, Miguel Rojas and Alex Freeland will be in the mix for playing time at second base for the Dodgers.
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Adam Frazier 2B | LAA
Angels' Adam Frazier: Goes to Angels on NRI deal
Frazier agreed Monday with the Angels on a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to spring training, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Frazier split his time last season between the Pirates and Royals, finishing with a .267/.319/.365 batting line and seven home runs over 134 contests. The 34-year-old has a decent chance to capture a reserve role with the Angels, providing depth at second base, third base and the corner-outfield spots.
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Jose Altuve 2B | HOU
Astros' Jose Altuve: Focusing on second base this spring
Astros manager Joe Espada said Monday that Altuve will spend most of spring training working exclusively at second base, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Altuve was the Astros' Opening Day left fielder last season and wound up splitting his time pretty evenly between left field, second base and designated hitter. This season, however, he appears slated to return to his natural second base position on an everyday basis. Zach Cole looks like the favorite to see most of the reps in left field for Houston.
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Jose Altuve 2B | HOU
Astros' Jose Altuve: Healthy to start spring
Altuve (foot) is healthy to start spring training and is expected to serve as the Astros' primary second baseman this season, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Altuve dealt with a rocky transition to left field to start the 2025 campaign and finished the year with a nagging foot injury, resulting in a .265 batting average, the lowest of his career apart from the 2020 shortened season. Now healthy and back at second base, Altuve will look to rebound in 2026. Manager Joe Espada emphasized the 35-year-old Altuve's health earlier in the offseason, stating that he needs to "help Jose have the right amount of time to be off his feet." With Houston's current surplus of infielders, it seems likely that Altuve will at least play fewer than the 155 games he did in 2025.